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Articles by Ellen Chaffee
Leadership Succession and Support
In November, AGB concluded its webinar series on its Top Strategic Issues for Boards 2024-2025 report. The November webinar discussion focused on several themes from the report, including institutional leadership succession and support. The presentation underscored the critical role of higher education governing boards in hiring, assessing, and supporting an institution’s chief executive.
Board Independence and Leadership
In November, AGB concluded its webinar series on the Top Strategic Issues for Boards 2024-2025 report. The webinar focused on several themes highlighted in the report, including board independence and leadership. Higher education governing boards have fiduciary duties mandating them to always act in the best interests of their institutions.
AGB President & CEO Update: AGB’s Top Strategic Issues (Foundation)
You are viewing the Institutionally Related Foundation version of this CEO Update. System and Institution versions are also available. Last month at our National Conference on Trusteeship, we announced our latest publication, Top Strategic Issues for Boards 2024–2025.
AGB President & CEO Update: Navigating Campus Unrest and Strategic Issues
You are viewing the Institution version of this CEO Update. Institutionally Related Foundation and System versions are also available. Before I dig into this month’s update, I want to recognize the ongoing protests about the Israel-Gaza conflict. I was heartbroken to see news story after news story exposing both heartfelt schisms in our communities and tragic incidents where legitimate free expression sometimes bled into confrontation and violence.
AGB President & CEO Update: Strategies to Support the CEO
You are viewing the Institution version of this CEO Update. Institutionally Related Foundation and System versions are also available. Successful institutions have successful presidents. Hiring is only the first step.
AGB President & CEO Update: No Surprises
You are viewing the Institution version of this CEO Update. Institutionally Related Foundation and System versions are also available. One of the best pieces of advice to new board members and chief executives is “no surprises,” meaning that leaders should mitigate surprises by being timely and transparent if they’re going to work together effectively. If only we could always adhere to such a rule.
AGB President & CEO Update: Recognizing Exemplary Boards; Understanding Board Advocacy in a Contentious Age (Foundation)
You are viewing the Institutionally Related Foundation version of this CEO Update. System and Institution versions are also available. It’s never the wrong time to celebrate excellence, and I have two examples to share: I am excited to celebrate the 2024 recipients of the John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership. I suggest how you can celebrate your institution or foundation through appropriate advocacy.
AGB President & CEO Update: The Fate of Higher Education Depends on Quality Board Governance
Happy New Year! I invite you to view this month’s CEO update, which focuses on your AGB in 2024. Click here for a transcript of the video. As I outline in my video message, the fate of higher education depends on quality board governance. AGB is excited to join you in stepping up to the call. This year, we are emphasizing four strategic issues identified by our members. Review some of the resources below to get started. We look forward to being your partner, ally, and confidant in 2024.
AGB President & CEO Update: Gifts to Strengthen Your Board Culture (System)
You are viewing the System version of this CEO Update. Institutionally Related Foundation and Institution versions are also available. I once heard a story about a car manufacturing company CEO visiting a new plant in the 1980s. Just before he arrived, workers had to make quick repairs when a production line malfunctioned. Unaware, the CEO naturally asked about the plant’s status. The embarrassed plant manager hesitantly admitted to the problem, expecting the worst.
AGB President & CEO Update: A Time for Imagination (System)
You are viewing the System version of this CEO Update. Institutionally Related Foundation and Institution versions are also available. Today marks the end of my first month as interim president and CEO of AGB, and I can attest to the AGB staff’s dedication to supporting you.
Higher Education’s Ability to Serve Our Nation Is under Threat
AGB’s Council of Board Chairs and Council of Presidents held in-person meetings recently at the National Conference on Trusteeship in San Diego. The meetings—open to all board chairs and vice-chairs and all presidents and chancellors participating in the NCT—were well attended.
Letter: Don’t be a victim
The people of North Dakota need information to choose candidates for office, vote on ballot measures, and ensure that their representatives are accountable. This transparency must be sufficient to enable the people to make informed decisions and give proper weight to different speakers and messages.
Commission must honor the Ethics Amendment
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Ethics Commission must honor North Dakota's Ethics Amendment
Letters The members are five conscientious, non-political people of various backgrounds. Written By: By Dina Butcher, president, and Ellen Chaffee, vice president, North Dakotans for Public Integrity, Bismarck | 2:25 pm, Nov. 29, 2021 × North Dakota voters made it very clear by approving the Ethics Amendment to the state constitution in 2018: We expect state government to become more transparent, ethical and accountable.
Letter: New rules contradict North Dakota's Ethics Amendment
Letters Butcher and Chaffee write, "We have these concerns: The new rules contradict the ethics amendment, perhaps because the commission did not have accurate constitutional advice, and their scheduled hearing had no provision for citizens to talk with commissioners." Written By: Dina Butcher and Ellen Chaffee | 8:54 am, Nov.
When It’s Time to Say Farewell
Trustees may decline reappointment or even resign midterm if they are often unable to attend, have demanding new priorities in life, are at odds with board decisions, or in declining health. Occasionally, a trustee is simply unable or unwilling to comply with the board’s expectations. If chronic absentees or disrupters do not leave the board on their own, good governance becomes increasingly difficult.
Transparency is as important as ever
Wealthy special interests spend millions to persuade you to vote their way. If you respect them and believe their way is also good for you, their persuasion will work. If not, they’ve wasted their money on you. But many donors, including corporations, prefer to be anonymous for business, political, or other reasons. That’s called dark money. Fortunately, North Dakota law supports our right to know and requires reporting almost all campaign funding sources. Almost. Case in point: Gov.
Letter: Dark money in North Dakota
Wealthy special interests spend millions to persuade you to vote their way. If you respect them and believe their way is also good for you, their persuasion will work. If not, they’ve wasted their money on you. But many donors, including corporations, prefer to be anonymous for business, political, or other reasons. That’s called dark money. Fortunately, North Dakota law supports our right to know and requires reporting almost all campaign funding sources. Almost.
Letter: Shaw's column on the implementation of ND's ethics measure was spot-on
Jim Shaw’s May 25th column titled, “The Unethical Implementation of the Ethics Measure” was spot-on. It was not inaccurate as claimed in a letter published by politician Scott Louser, who was vice-chair of the House Special Committee on Ethics that intentionally gutted what citizens approved last fall as Article XIV to the North Dakota Constitution.
Legislators will soon reveal their ethics and loyalties
By Ellen Chaffee from Bismarck Today at 7:17 a.m. Power corrupts. North Dakotans see that, and they hate it. Voters in two-thirds of the state’s legislative districts passed Measure 1 which created the ethics amendment, Article XIV of the North Dakota Constitution.
Letter: Let's work together to frame a trustworthy government
North Dakotans came together across the spectrum last year to make a significant decision. East or west, regardless of party or ideology, we voted to improve transparency and accountability in state government. It was called Measure 1 before the election; now it is Article XIV of the state constitution. Implementing Article XIV begins with the Ethics Commission bill in the current legislative session.
Tips for Being Sunshine-Law Savvy
The below excerpt is from a recent Trusteeship article, "How to Be Sunshine Savvy." State sunshine laws open public institutions’ meetings and records to anyone who wishes to see them. Most people agree with the principle, and most boards, consistent with their fiduciary duty of obedience, scrupulously comply. Many trustees have never worked in such an open environment.
ELLEN CHAFFEE: North Dakota needs both a strong university system and strong universities
It's no wonder if the board struggles periodically, sometimes by straying from its proper path and often from public misunderstanding of its roles and responsibilities.Does it govern the system, the campuses, or both? In fact, what does "govern" mean?All U.S. higher education governing boards are legally required ("fiduciary duty") to make their decisions in the best interest of the institutions they govern.
LETTER: North Dakota needs Marvin Nelson now
North Dakota state government is way off track. We could have had safe, rational and cost-effective strategies for transporting oil and gas, preventing spills and storing radioactive waste.Corporations could have been held accountable for their conduct instead of leaving us holding the bag. Our most vulnerable citizens could have been spared preventable budget cuts.
Letter: ND government needs new direction
North Dakota state government is way off track. We could have had safe, rational, cost-effective strategies for transporting oil and gas, preventing spills, and storing radioactive waste. Corporations could have been heldaccountable for their conduct instead of leaving us holding the bag. Our most vulnerable citizens could have been spared preventable budget cuts.
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